I think this is generally a good assumption, but I think her case MIGHT be a little exceptional, based on these recent Podcasts and such. It is clear they really like the narrative of a person who has way outperformed the normal standards for their secondary school. Tests are just one part of that, but for her it might help.
And generally, when they talked about deferrals, that is how they discussed it–they were not sure yet whether this person would stand out in the RD pool enough to be admitted.
So yes, it is a pretty good bet this will make no difference at all. But I think there is some chance they will see it as helping her stand out. And I would personally want that chance if I were her.
Edit: I should make clear, though, that this is 100% her call. As a parent, I would make the case for why it might help. But if my kid still thought their application was stronger without it, then fine too.
Thanks for the advice, I’m going to discuss with my daughter! Also does anyone know if the student is responsible for self reporting the mid year update or is that done officially through the school?
+1 on updating with the scores, but I agree with referencing the change in policy with the update.
Did she already share any scores (APs)? If so it may be less relevant.
One more thing, you (and she) need to understand and be confident that the score is not what keeps her out if that happens. It’s hard to not get stuck on the what ifs either way but everything indicates that such a score is better than no score.
FWIW in 2019 (before TO) 11% of enrolled students were accepted with a 1200-1400 score. It looks like 1200 is about the threshold. Since then elite colleges have significantly increased outreach and efforts to accept students from schools such as yours (I am assuming it is not in wealthy district), so I wouldn’t be surprised if that % goes up going forward.
School but make sure it has been done. Does it show up either way on the checklist? Our school uses Scoir and we can see what documents were submitted and when.
Might also be worth confirming that a school profile which includes typical SAT scores was submitted.
Thank you for the response. She didn’t submit an APs because they were mostly 3s. And in terms of the school profile, her guidance counselor sent me a copy and it doesn’t indicate the schools SAT/ACT scores at all. I know Yale has access to the score through via college board though. I don’t know if she would have to try to update Common App, request for college board to send the scores or to somehow just create a document indicating the score and her rationale for now submitting it via the Yale portal update tab.
While her score may be high in the context of her high school, it is still in the low 1300’s.
Is the high school in a poor urban or rural area such that it will show up as such in Landscape. Just because the school average may be low, the AO will use Landscape to contextualize the score as well.
What did your daughter indicate as you and your spous’s profession and educational level in the Common App? Does 1 or more of you have an advanced degree, are you “professionals”, etc… At one end she is FGLI at the other both parents have advanced degrees and are doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants, etc… Again this will be part of the “context”.
With the relatively limited number of deferreds, your daughter is “in the running”. If the entire context is that she is at an under resourced school and the indications are that there are certain family disadvantages vs privileges, then submitting may help and not hurt. If the only thing is that her school avg is low, with a 1310, I am not sure it would be wise to submit since she is already in the running. Remember, her goal is to add things that would put her over the top.
Thank you for the response. Yes her school district in itself is in an urban considered poor school district. In terms of her parents, her mother worked the majority of her life as a CNA until recently graduating from our small state school and then going back to get her masters in social work. I literally went back to school and finished my bachelors a month ago. We have joint custody so but I don’t believe that she would be considered fgli. She would pretty much be considered middle class.
I wish that I didn’t wait until she was a junior to start doing all of this research on what it takes to get into an ultra selective university. We all just figured get good grades and you will have a chance. I wish I would’ve researched tools like khan academy so that she could’ve maximized her scores. Maybe we should just let the chips rest where they lay. Idk
In fact I believe this is the “official” policy in the sense it is typically considered the applicant’s responsibility to make sure it is done, even if procedurally it is the counselor who does it.
@NiceUnparticularMan has really dug into the podcast and such and I am curious on their opinion, but to me this is even more reason to submit the SAT. Yale is IMO also looking for grade context. If this is an underperforming HS that rarely sends a student to Yale, a 1300 goes a long way in confirming that her good grades are well deserved and she has the goods to succeed.
Once submitted and downloaded by the school, changes to the CommonApp will not be seen. A short email will suffice. I would add “I am particularly proud of this score because the average at my school is xx” or something of the sort. If they need anything else they will advise. And then they will expect official scores to be submitted for matriculation. Also, most portals have a place to self report scores, which she should do, but Id still email requesting/explaining the change in TO status bc many schools state that if you check TO they will disregard scores even if accidentally submitted (no idea how that works in practice).
A question: I know deferred applicants get another complete review. Is the review by your regional AO or is it by another AO? Are we automatically going to be discussed by the committee?
Just wanted to give a brief update that my daughter decided to send the brief update and she submitted her SAT score. I pray I didn’t advise her wrong but she’s ok trusting her dad.
I don’t know if this was directly addressed, but my sense was that it wasn’t likely your file was going to get a new reader, more just that your regional admissions committee would discuss your case again once they had seen the RD pool.
This does sorta imply to me they might actually reconsider the deferreds on the later side, but I don’t know.
Yale is such a long shot for anyone. (I have 1 alumni and one who did not get in) Please do not think that you made a mistake or at fault if she does not get in. It could have nothing to do with the test scores she submitted. Congrats to her on getting deferred that in itself is an amazing accomplishment . Good luck to her in the regular decision cycle.
On last years thread ppl were saying that they review deferrals first once they have an idea of the RD pool. Someone said they heard this on one of their podcasts.
In last years thread ppl were saying that a lot of deferrals were looked at first in terms of financial aid situation, such as changes to the portal. People then speculated that it must mean they look at them towards the beginning
